Condensation pump



Sept. 5, 1950 R. E. CORTRIGHT CONDENSATION PUMP Filed Jan. 16, 1946 ROBERTE.CORTRIGHT IN VEN TOR FIGJ.

ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 1950 I Y v connmg s l i' ri ii ruliii I t 7 Robert E. Cortright, RocheSteI- NQZ alga".

v1 7 mesne assignments, to EastmanKodak Company, Rochester, N. Y., a corporationof New Jersey Application January My invention relates to an improvement in high vacuum concentric fractionating pumps andin particular to high vacuum pumps in which there are a'multiplicity of concentric fractionating'columns or boilers. "Siich high vacuum pumps are described in and are well known in'the prior art as vertical concentric fractionating condensation pumps; see,-

16, isesNtJainQi; 3Claims. (c g a H I f Numeral 112i designates a cylindrical pump casing, thebasepf whichfis closed by an integral plate "12; Thetopbffithe casing 2 is provided with a flange:lwhiclffacllitates connection" with the"fsyst'em ""toi beevacuated." The upper end. therefore, representsthe high vacuum or intake side of the pump? The low vacuum or exhaust side"of"the""pump is indicated by the conduit" 5 which connects with; the backing pump (not shown) Numerals I'EandZI designate approximately concentric cylinders "or columns, the base of each of which is'in closean'd liquid-tight contact witlijan intermediate base plate 3. Concen tri'cfcylinders i6 'an'd"21"are each provided with downsuch walls. The concentric arrangement 'oi'the boiler compartments is such that the lowest vapor pressure components of the pump or workingfiuid, which cannot be vaporized withoutdecomposition, are delivered to a jet nozzle at least once removed from the highest vacuum jet nozzle 1 a so that the next lowest vapor pressure components which can be vaporized without appreciable decomposition are delivered to the highest vacuum jet. It has been found, however, that 'it is difficult to prevent the uncontrolled seepage "of the working fluid from one boiler into another and thereby impairing the fractionation in the several boilers and reducing the efficiency of the D mps-f My invention has for its object to provide a means for, preventing such'uncontrolled seepage o rf leakage from one boiler into another and thereby to"provide' more efficient fractionation in 'itlie several boilers by controlling the introductionof the pumping fluid into them. Another object is to provide improved high vacuum pumping apparatus. Other objectives will appear hereinafter.

v These and other objects are accomplished Lbymy invention which includes a vertical concentric fractionatingcondensation pump prorided with means positioned in or around the boileror boilers thereof for preventing uncontrolled leakage of pumpfi'uid from one boiler to another; I

"" lnfthe following description I have given several'of thepreferredembodiments of my invention, but it is to be understood that these are set forth for the purpose of illustration and not in limitation thereof.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein like numbers refer to like parts, I have illustrated one of the preferred embodiments of my invention wherein:

Figure l is a vertical section of a high vacuum fractionating pump provided with several concentric boilers or columns embodying the principles o'f my invention. a

- Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. r 1

a metal capor' collar,designated'respectively as 6' and t at their respective bases which fittightly to the outside'of 'eachicolumn. Such cap or collar may, 'howev'erfbe positioned inside the column in different embodimentof my invention. Numerals 13:14," 2 I and 23 designate annular jet lips integral with the periphery of the columns I I, I6-and2l,j'respectively, so 'as to form high, intermediate and"low"vacuum jet nozzles? Numerals"22,"'2 l; 26"a'n'd' 34"design2ite' openings throughwhich vapors issue into the jet nozzles froi'n'the spaces between the concentric columns. Numeral 'ifdesignat'esthe annular boiler defined 'bycolumn IG' 'andgftheinside of the pump casing 2 and which suppli'e' 7 working vapor to jet nozzles i 3'fa'nd"l'4. Numeral 8 designates an annular boil'ef'which supplies working vapor to jet'nozzle ill, Num'eraP'Q ldesignatesfan annular boiler working vvapor to jet nozz1e"23. p v v designates an electrical nestin .eleir'leht'sofpositibnefd inth'e base'of the pump ea s ng'betwee i the. ra ts l2 forming the bottom thereof emanate: as'to heat boiler compartmentsi, :8 and"9. 7N.umeral 2s designates copper coils wl'iicli watertis fcirculated to cool the casing 2 and assist dondensation of the Workin II noperat n t apparatus illustrated in l an organic' pumpi'fluid is introduced into the pump. Flang connected 'to"thesystem to be evacuated a 5 is connected to a backing pump in the usual manneri The base plate .3 is then heated jby the electrical heating element lfl.' vatorjpr puueed inboiler section I riseslin the an ular,sp'a'cebetween column ll andcolumn and. passes through holes 22'and 2 4;and issues from jet nozzles l3 and M. The jetentrains gases in known manner which are removed by the backing pump through conduit 5. The jet. vapors condense on the walls of casing 2, flow by gravity into the space between 2 and I l and arrive :back into the boiler compartment lfrom whichthey were derived. The unthrough boiler; [antiwar-therefore, been ,de-.

prived of high vaporapressure oonstituents mefore passing through opening l8.

In boiler compartment 8 the next lowest below the high vapor ressure constituents areivaporized and pass upwards between concentric-columns I6 and 21. These va-porszaissue throug-h openings 26 and pass out through -jet noz'zle zl and are condensed on the wall or casing2. "lhe condensed liquid flows back into boiler compartment 1. The pump fluid whichis not vaporized in boiler compartment 8 passes in a circular sor tortuous path to a passage l9 and into boiler compartment 9. Here the lowest vapor pressure components are vaporized and rise and-tissue through opening '34 andipass fromjet nozzle 23. Since this jet is the highestvacuum jet, itsis desirable that it be supplied with thebestpor- '"tion of the pump fluid vapors. .The vapors issuingfrom jet 23 are condensed, on the walls-.of casingl2 andfflow by gravity-back into..boiler It is apparent that emcienflfra'ctionation of the pump fluid takes place in the operation'of this apparatus. 'The pumpffluid'is.,segregated into components of gradually increasing vapor pressure as in prior constructionslbut thelowest vapor. pressure component .is segregated and-is on the ends of said columns and forming bottoms yfor said boilers, each said cap comprising a plate closing. said column and an upturned flange on the periphery of said plate extending upwardly -along thecolumn, said caps being sealed to said columns in liquid-tight manner preventing flow of pump fluid between said boilers except through said apertured zones in said columns.

2. Ina fractionating condensation pump of the type having a plurality of concentrically arranged fractionating columns defining at one end there- ,of a..plurality-of concentrically arrangedboilers adapted to contains. pump fluid and intercommunicatingLin series whereby. during operation of. .said.pump. said'fluid flows" in sequencethrou'g'h said boilers in such manner that the high vapor pressurecomponents of thewpump xfluidexett their pumping action toward a high j pressure pumping..zone and the low vapor 'pressurecomponentsexert their pumping action toward'ia low pressure pumping zone of the pumpfea ch said.c'olumn having ..a single aperturefithrough not. permitted to be vaporized. and deliveredto the V 1 highest vacuum jet. 'The harmful e'fiectsof'its decomposition products are thereby avoided.

"The feature of causing the pumpfluid to pass in a tortuous path througheach boiler com- .partment is also of decidedadvantageand.oanbe used in fractionatingpumps .ofalltypes. If the pumpfiuid is permitted to how too quickly from one compartment to anotherfit is not efliciently stripped of its lighter constituentsaridthese will .be vaporized at a point where they may adsaid-caps-being weldedin sealing relationto said versely affect the pumping action. "'Bycausing li'quid to pass in a tortuouspath, removal .of all volatile constituentsibefore .it reachesthe next boiler compartment is assured.

Uncontrolled seepageof. such :returnedpump 2:

which have rims theidiameterofwhich' isclosely fitted to either theoutsi'de or theinsidediameter of the base of the concentridfractionatin -columns. "Entrance openings extend through'the columns and the caps asdesignated-by numerals 118* and I 9 on oppositesides of the columns. Thus 'not' only is seepage'prevented 'by'thebase'ofeach column being individually and completely sealed "off; but my *inventionalso -accomplishes' a" completecirculatioirin' the heatingichambers. fDue to the thin constructionbf the sealing"-'cap,"-the heat-remains uniformf if 'thisis desired.

Whatl claimis:

' 1. In fractionating condensationipumpofthe type "having 'a plurality of concentrically-arranged fractionating -columns-defining at one end thereof a plurality "of' concentrically arranged boilers adapted "to containpump fiuid'andinter- "communicating in serieswhereby duringoperation of said pump-said =-fiuid*fiows in sequence through said boilers -in-=-su'c h manner that the high vapor pressure"componeiitsfiof the pump fluid exert their *pumping action 'to'ward a high pressure pumping zone and the low va-porpres- -sure components-exert their pumping action-$0- -Wa-rd a low pressure pumpingazone of the' pump each said column being apentured in a isingle' leealized zone for intercommuniea ting hefiboiler defined by saidcolumn with the boiler: next' ad- Lil theawall of the columnadjacent thelower erid thereof .intercommunicating the boiler definediby said. column with the boiler next adjacent thereto, the .apertures in successive concentrioc'ok umnsbeinguangularly spaced with respect to each other around the periphery of the columnwhereby ,pump fluid flowing through the .boil'ers fis causedito flow alonga-tortuous path, heatI-conducting caps arranged over the ends ofsaidcolumnsand. formingbottoms for said boilers eabh said cap. comprisinga plate. closing said. column and an upturnedflange extending upwardly along thecolumnaround the circumferential extentiif thescolumn and in close fittingrelation thereto,

columns.

3.. In a.fractionating.condensation pump oflthe .typehaving a; plurality of. concentrically arranged .fractionatingcolumns defining at one. endithereof.: a'..p1urality of concentrically arrangedlboilers adapted to contain pump fluid and intercommunicating sinseries iwhereby during operation of said pump said fiuidfiowsin sequence through said boilers .inisuch.mannenthatlthe high vapor pressure components of the pumplfiuid .exerttheir pumping action toward .a'.. high pressure pumping=zone and .the -low vapor pressure components exert ..their. pumping action. toward a ,low .pressure-pumpingzoneof the pump, each..sai'd.. cblumn being apertured for intercommunicatingthe aboiler defined by said column with-the next-adjacent .boiler, heat-conducting capping imeans .along each said. column.

. ROBERT :E. CORTRIGI-IT.

-REEERENGES CITED I Thefollowing references are of record ini the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number vName Date (2,080,421 Hickman May 18,1937 2,'1 12,03 7 Malter Mar. 22, 1938 .s-2;150,6 76 Embree Mar. -.-l4,-l;1 939 2,211,329 Hickman An us, 1-941) 

